September 26, 2007

I just love it when things come around, when there are signs that I'm doing the right thing, that the path I'm on is the correct one. Don't you?

It is especially fulfilling when it has to do with my writing, since, as I've mentioned numerous times, I'm more of an organic writer than a plotter. Things happen all the time that surprise me.

So when I'm worked on a vague, half-baked idea, and things start to fit into place, and then the synchronicity supports it, I'm delighted.

For example, when I was writing The Bleeding Dusk, I was also reading The Count of Monte Cristo (fabulous, fabulous book, by the way–make sure you read the unabridged, full translation by Robin Buss. Someone ought to write a happier ending to the love story, though.). As you know, Dusk takes place in Rome, and I wanted to make sure I set the scene, and the feel, of Rome when I started the book.

During the writing of those first chapters, I happened to read the chapters in Monte Cristo that take place in Rome, during its Carnivale. (Of course, Monte Cristo is set some twenty-thirty years later than my books, but the Carnivale and its traditions hadn't changed). Those chapters that I was reading in Monte Cristo gave me the idea of setting the first few scenes in Dusk during the Carnivale–for it was perfect for vampires to be lurking about, behind masks and in the crowded streets, just waiting for their chance to lure someone away. *cue evil laughter*

Synchronicity. I would never have thought of it if I hadn't been reading Monte Cristo.

And as I started to think about When Twilight Burns, which I'm writing right now, I knew I'd be bringing Victoria and Company back to London. She's got unfinished business there, and it was time for her to return.

But several months before I started to work on this book, a friend of mine, Devon Wolfe, told me about a book he'd been reading called The Ghost Map. He thought I'd find it interesting, in light of my books–and he was right. It's about how the cholera epidemic in London was finally attributed to foul water, and how it eventually led to the building of sewers under the city.

Now my books, again, are set prior to this time, but only by a few decades. But what I found most fascinating was the information about the underground rivers and even buildings beneath London. And about the people who worked there, making a living for themselves by sifting through human and animal waste. What a great place for vampires to hang out!

So then I requested a book from the library to supplement my research. And it didn't come. And it didn't come. And it didn't come–for four weeks.

The day after it came, I walked into the room where my Music Man happened to be watching the History channel…and guess what the topic of the show was? The underground sewers, rivers, and Roman/medieval buildings of London.

Like I said, synchronicity. The universe was making sure I was going to get my research done, even if the library system wasn't cooperating!

And the weirdest thing about this research was that I made up a the ruins of a medieval abbey under London, where, ironically, the vampires hang out. And guess what. There really is a medieval abbey under London.

Way cool.